Chtimamachen 'Kittamaguund,' the 'Tayac of the Piscataway Indians', or the King, or the Emporer of the Piscataway Tribe, which is an offshoot of the Algonguin Tribe. The Piscatoes (Piscataway Indians of Maryland) migrated in the 14th Century to what is now the state of Maryland. There were founded by Utterpoingassinen (Lord over all) thirteen generations before his descendent, Chitamachen (later Kittamaquun). King Kittamaquund was the First Catholic convert in Maryland. Kittamaquund ("Big Beaver"), was a tapac or great chief of the Piscataways at the time the first English settlers arrived in Maryland. By 1639, Father Andrew White had established a mission at the tribal capital, Piscataway, also known as Kittamaquindi, from the name of Kittamaquund, its tapac. He was baptized 5 Jul 1639, along with his wife, daughter, and son, by Father Andrew White, Jesuit Priest, who came into the province on the "Ark and the Dove" in 1634. The governor and several of the colonial officers attended this ceremony.

Kittamaquund sent his daughter, newly named Mary, to live in Governor Calvert's household, where her guardianship was shared by Margaret Brent, the sister of Giles Brent. By 1650, the Brents, no longer enjoying the favor of Lord Baltimore, "turned to new strategies to advance their interests." Giles married Mary Kittamaquund, the Piscataway Indian, perhaps hoping to gain land or power from her influential father, and moved with her to Virginia in 1650. (Chester Horton Brent. The Brent Family. Rutland [VT]: Tuttle Publishing Co, 1946).

Annual letter of 1640 of the Jesuits: "At the same time, the Queen, with an infant at the breast, and another of the principal men, whom he especially admitted to his Counsels, together with his little son, were regenerated in the baptism font. To the Emporer, who was called 'Chitimachen' (before Kittamaguund) was given the name Charles and to his wife Mary."('Narratives of Early Maryland' Clayton C. Hall (1633-1684); p. 131)

Charles (Chitomachen) murdered his brother to obtain his position as Emperor.

When the new settlers arrived from England, the governor's first priority was to put relations with the Indians on a friendly basis, and to put their fears and the rumors to rest. He was also eager to secure a favorable site for the settlement. So when the governor learned that many native chiefs were subject to the Tayac of the Piscataways, he decided to visit him to explain the purpose for their coming. The tayac had a very extensive domain. It stretched about one hundred and thirty miles. All the local chieftains were his subjects. By gaining his good will, Calvert hoped to secure an easier access to the others. Leaving Father White with the cargo on St. Clements Island, they sailed the Dove farther up the Potomac. When he learned that the natives had fled inland, he went on to Potomac, a settlement that took its name from the river. The young chiefs uncle named Archihu acted as his guardian and regent. A sober and discreet man, he willingly listened to Father Altham who was accompanying the governor. Henry Fleet, a Protestant trader from Virginia who had the acquired the confidence of the natives, interpreted for them. The governor had chosen him to act as an interpreter for more than one reason. He wanted to use Fleet's known relationship to Claiborne to reassure the natives that the rumors they had heard were not true. He suspected that Fleet might have had a hand in spreading those rumors.

Their arrival pleased Archihu very much once he realized that they had come with peaceful intentions. As far as he could through the interpreter, Altham explained the errors of the heathen, Archilu would, every little while, acknowledge his own. He insisted the English only desired to impart civilized instruction to his people, to show them the way to heaven, and to share with them the advantages of distant countries. As Father Altham could not stop for further instruction then, he promised that he would return before very long. "That is just what I wish," said Archihu, "we will eat at the same table; my followers too shall go to hunt for you, and we will have all things in common."

From there they went to Piscataway, the seat of the tayac. His name was Chitomachen. Five hundred bowmen came to meet them at the waterside. The tayac had less fear then the rest. He came aboard the Dove by himself. Through the hospitality he received he realized that they had come with good intentions. As a result he gave them permission to settle where they pleased. While the tayac was on aboard, his men stayed by the waterside. Some feared treason, until the pilgrims assured them otherwise through interpreters.

While the governor was on his mission, Father White was busy on St. Clements Island trying to dispel whatever fears the native peoples there might have. Gradually they began to lose their fear and came to the makeshift guardhouse, and sometimes aboard the ship. They wondered where that tree grew from which the pilgrims had hewn such a big canoe. They assumed that it was all of one piece, just like theirs. The cannons caused them to tremble. They thought they were more fearful than any thunder they had ever heard.

On July 5th of 1640, the long hoped for event occurred. Chitomachen entered the Catholic Church together with his family and a number of his tribe. At the same time the queen, with an infant at the breast, the tayacs little son, along with some of his principal advisors were regenerated in the baptismal font. The tayac was given the baptismal name of Charles. His wife received the name of Mary. Each of the others who were baptized also received Christian names. Governor Calvert, the secretary, Mr. Lewger, and other prominent people of the Province traveled to Piscataway to witness the fruit of Father White's labors. The celebration took place in a little chapel that the tayac had erected of bark, after the style of the native hogans. No expense was spared to make the celebration as magnificent as possible.

In the afternoon, the tayac and his queen renewed their marriage vows according to the Christian rite. Then the tayac, the governor, the secretary and others lent their shoulders and hands to the task of erecting a great cross. They carried it to its destined place, while Father White and Father Altham lead the way, chanting the Litany of Loreto in honor of the Blessed Virgin".

Unfortunately, both Fathers White and Altham contracted a fever during their stay at Piscataway, and it was necessary for them to return to St. Marys City, where Father Altham died on November 5, 1640. Father Poulton took over the mission at Piscataway until Father Whites return in February, 1641. At the invitation of the King of the Anacostians, Father White visited his tribe at Anacostia, converting the king and some of his people. Chitomachen sent his daughter, who was to succeed him, to Saint Marys City to be educated among the English. She became the ward of Miss Margaret Brent, the most prominent woman in the colony at that time and a trusted advisor of the governor.

At Piscataway Father White found the breakthrough that he had been seeking. In June 1639, Chitomachen, the Tayac of the Piscataways, received Father White with great openness. From the very beginning he insisted that he should accept no other hospitality than that of his palace. The queen was no less hospitable to Father White. With her own hands, she prepared meat and baked bread for him with no less care than labor.

Father White claimed that this remarkable affection that the tayac had for him stemmed from two dreams. One dream appeared to the mind of Uwanno, the twin brother of the tayac, who ruled before him, and whom he slew. For in his sleep he appeared to see Father White and Father Altham standing before him. He heard a voice telling him these were the men who truly loved him with all his tribe. They were bringing those blessings by which he could be happy, if he desired it. These unknown men made such an impression on him that he never forgot them. When he first saw the two Jesuits walking toward him, he immediately recognized them as the men in his dream. He customarily called Father White his father. He wanted him to take on the instruction of his son for seven years if he should ever have one. This was all the more remarkable because the natives were very fond of children and seldom let them go from their embrace. The other dream, which he frequently related, occurred to the Tayac. His father, deceased some time before, appeared before his eyes. A god of a dim color, whom he worshipped, accompanied him and was beseeching him not to desert him. At a short distance stood the Englishman, Justinian Snow, a stout opponent of the Jesuits, accompanied by a hideous god. Finally, in another direction, the governor of the colony and Father White appeared. A god also accompanied him, but this one was much more beautiful. He excelled the unstained snow in whiteness, and seemed gently to beckon the tayac to him. From that time on, the tayac treated both the governor and Father White with the greatest affection.

Not long after Father White arrived, the tayac fell gravely ill. When forty conjurers had in vain tried every remedy, Father White, with permission of the sick man, administered medicine. It was a certain powder of known efficacy mixed with holy water. A day later, by the assistance of the boy whom he had with him, Father White opened one of the tayacs veins for blood-letting. Gradually, the sick man began to grow better, and soon recovered fully. When he was well, he decided to become a Christian. In this he was not alone. His wife and two daughters decided to do the same. Father White promptly began to instruct them. For their part, they eagerly received the Faith. Once the light of heaven poured upon them, they quickly forsook their former way of life. The tayac exchanged the skins which he had worn up to then for clothes in the English style. He also made an effort to learn English. He put away his concubines, and lived content with one wife. He did this, he said, to have more leisure to pray. He abstained from meat on the days the Church forbade it. He thought anyone who did not fast ought to be called a bad Christian. He greatly delighted in spiritual conversation, and seemed to esteem earthly wealth as nothing in comparison with heavenly. Once Governor Calvert was explaining to him what great advantages he could derive from trade with the English. The tayac told him that he considered these things trifling when compared with the one advantage he received from the English. Through their testimony he had arrived at the true knowledge of the one God. In his eyes there was nothing more important.

The tayac continued to give signs of faith. On one occasion he held a convention of the empire. There was a crowded assembly of the chiefs and a circle of the common people in attendance. Father White and some of the English where present when the tayac publicly stated that he and his family were determined to renounce their former superstitions and to take the part of Christ. He was convinced that there was no other God than the God of the Christians. Only by faith in Jesus could the immortal soul of man be saved from death. He now realized that the stones and herbs, which he had once worshipped, were the humblest things created by the almighty God for the use and relief of human life. To give added force to his words, he kicked far away from him a stone that happened to be near. The murmur of applause from the people encouraged the Jesuits. It indicated to them that the other members of the tribe were also favorable inclined to the Faith. This led them to hope that when the family of the tayac was baptized, the conversion of the whole empire would speedily take place. In the meantime, they heartily thanked God for so joyful a beginning to the evangelization. They were especially encouraged when they daily saw that the native peoples had a contempt for those idols that they had formerly reckoned as gods.

The tayac showed himself willing to evangelize even before his baptism. A certain native man killed an English settler. He was found guilty of the homicide, and sentenced to death. At just that time the tayac, in the company Father White, arrived at St. Mary’s City. The Jesuits exhorted the condemned man to receive baptism. In this way he should provide for the salvation of his immortal soul. When he appeared to show himself open to what they were saying, the Jesuits tried as far as they could to instruct the man further. Language, however, was a barrier. The tayac saw that the Jesuits were struggling to express their thoughts in the native tongue. So, of his own accord, he began to help. Not only did he interpret for the condemned man what Father White had taught him, but he also on his own added some things so appropriate and efficacious that those present were deeply impressed. Finally he drew the prisoner over to the Catholic side. Imbued with the necessary knowledge and washed in the sacred font, the neophyte prepared himself for death. He followed for the most part everything the priests suggested to him. Indeed he appeared to be possessed with so vehement a desire of seeing God, that he seemed almost too eager to have the execution hastened. A remarkable eagerness appeared in his countenance. He fortified himself by the frequent and salutary sign of the cross. He often repeated it submissively. Whatever he did or said did not seem feigned for show. They seemed to come from the inner recesses of his soul. When he came to the place of execution, he inquired, with cheerful countenance, if he was to sing at his departure. When he was told to say the holy names of Jesus and Mary, he cheerfully obeyed. Almost at the same moment the rope cut short his breath. It stilled his voice praising God as it ended his life. The Jesuits buried him in the Catholic cemetery, in the most solemn manner, so that even from this, the native people might understand, that, although Christians may punish the crimes of malefactors, they hold their souls dear, and are easily reconciled to them, if they repent. The Jesuits were certain that such an example of clemency and charity to the deceased, struck them so much the more forcibly, the more it differed from their customs. They were accustomed to serve up their enemies, slain in the most cruel manner, to be feasted on by their friends.

This unnamed native thus became the first Catholic among the Maryland Indians. The example of his newfound faith moved all who saw it. No one, however, was more touched at the sight of the dying neophyte than the tayac himself. He afterwards earnestly insisted that he too should receive the gift of baptism. After carefully considering his request, the Jesuits decided that it would be for the greater glory of God to defer the baptism a little until it could be performed with the greatest solemnity, and in the sight of his countrymen. This would allow his wife and his children to participate in his joy and gladness. The Catholics won over the tayac to their view. He greatly delighted in their prolonged hospitality. When he returned home, Father White went with him. As soon as soon as he arrived home, he commanded his people to prepare the church by the next Pentecost, the time appointed for his baptism.